Fluid powered bubble machine with spill-proof capability

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for producing both bubbles and streams of water that because of its unique geometry and design, will when oriented in any position prevent spillage of its bubble solution when filled to the fill line or below, and is capable of automatic and continuous bubble generation while simultaneously generating amusing water streams. It is principally intended for use by young children as a lawn water toy as well as a bubble creating device.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/608,854filed Feb. 29, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,832,969 which was acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/086,541 filed Jul. 1,1993 and since issued Mar. 5, 1996 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,495,876 which wasa continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/828,345 filed Jan. 30,1992 and since issued Sep. 21, 1993 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,246,046. Thebenefit of the filing date of this earlier filed application is claimedunder 35 U.S.C. § 120.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to improved machines for blowing bubblesas well as to improved machines for providing water spray for amusement.The invention has particular application for use with bubble solution ofthe type used by children in blowing bubbles.

It is well known that bubble machines have existed for some time and arecommercially available in a variety of embodiments. Prior to applicant'sco-pending application, and other applications by applicant which havematured into U.S. patents, these bubble machines have been of a type andgeometry which provided no resistance to spillage of liquid contents ofthe machine. In addition, a variety of water toys have long existed thatprovide an amusing spray of water as well actuate movement of cartooncharacters or cause the cartoon characters to spray water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an improved fluid powered bubblemachine having various impellers, fans, axles and gear working incombination and wherein water from a source such as a garden hoseactivates the bubble machine to generate a continuous stream of bubbles.The machine can be used in combination with a sprinkler to generate botha stream of bubbles from one end on the machine, and a stream of waterfrom the other end. In different embodiments of the present invention,selective channeling of the sprinkler portion of the bubble machinecreates amusing and intermittent streams of water. In some instances,only the bubble portion of the machine is in use and the sole result isa pleasing, continuous stream of bubbles. In other instances, only thesprinkler portion of the machine is in use and the sole result is thegeneration of streams of water useful for either water play or forwatering the lawn or other vegetation. In yet another embodiment, thewater sprinkling portion of the apparatus has a non-fluid powered bubblemachine, such as a battery powered bubble machine mounted on top. In itsideal use, both the sprinkler and bubble portion of the bubble machineare in use resulting in both a continuous stream of bubbles and streamsof water, thereby maximizing the pleasure potential and utility of theinvention.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fluid poweredbubble machine comprises an impeller housing which encloses an impellerand which has a threaded opening for connection to a standard gardenhose. On one side wall of the housing is another opening that forms achannel for providing fluid communication between the inner cavity ofthe housing and a fluid tank. Water flowing into the bubble machine fromthe garden hose or other water source flows past the impeller causingthe impeller to act as a hydraulic motor which powers other portions ofthe bubble machine which are described below. In the preferredembodiment, a hollow cylinder is provided for rotation within the fluidtank. The hollow cylinder rotates in response to torque from thehydraulic motor and causes a constantly changing portion of ports to bealternately open and closed. This, in turn, causes the water streams tobe intermittent. Throughout the rotation cycle of the hollow cylinder,there are always one or more ports in the open position, so as to allowthe water to flow continuously. After flowing past the impeller, thewater flows into the hollow cylinder within the fluid tank and is portedout via a plurality of channels that guide the water into streamsemanating radially outward and upward from the fluid tank.

On a second side wall of the impeller housing is a sealed, secondopening for a geared axle. The axle is attached to the impeller at oneend thereof, and is rotatably connected to a second impeller or fan.While the second impeller is not hydraulically ported to the hydraulicmotor, torque from the hydraulic motor rotates the geared axle causingthe second impeller to turn. Rotation of the second impeller generatesan air stream. A bubble solution container is attached to the upper endof the bubble machine. The bubble solution container has an opening inthe top surface and a funnel depending from the top surface into theinner cavity of the container. A bubble wheel, having bubble openings atthe periphery of the bubble wheel, is positioned within the funnel andis rotatably connected to an extension of the geared axle. Rotation ofthe geared axle thus synchronously rotates both the second impeller andthe bubble wheel. The diameter of the bubble wheel is sufficiently largesuch that an upper portion of the bubble wheel is continuously outsideof the bubble container and is thereby exposed to the continuous airstream generated by the rotation of the second impeller. When a thinfilm of bubble solution adheres to the bubble openings at the peripheryof the bubble wheel, the continuous air stream generated by the secondimpeller creates a continuous stream of bubbles.

Accordingly, in the preferred embodiment of the present inventionwherein both the bubble machine and the sprinkler portion are inoperation, it is an object of the present invention to provide a fluidpowered bubble machine with spill-proof capability by connecting thelower impeller housing spout to a pressurized fluid or water source. Thewater will turn the impeller, exit the impeller housing through theupper impeller housing spout, enter the fluid tank through the fluidtank attach spout, fill and pressurize the fluid tank, exit through oneor more aligned fluid passage holes and fluid passage slots, and createamusing streams of water. In response to the rotation of the impeller,the impeller forward gear will turn the fluid drum gear. Turning of thefluid drum gear will cause various fluid passage holes and fluid passageslots to constantly align and misalign in a predetermined or randompattern. The rotating rearward impeller gear will cause the coupledfemale fan gear and fan to rotate. Rotation of the fan creates an airstream directed at the bubble wheel. Rotation of the fan, fan axle, andmale fan gear also causes rotation of the bubble wheel through thebubble trough. A plurality of bubble orifices placed on the outerperiphery of the bubble wheel thus rotates into the bubble trough, picksup a thin film of bubble solution, continues its rotation within therectangular funnel until the bubble orifices are protruding outside ofthe container. The air stream “blows” bubbles with the bubble filmthereby vacating the bubble orifices. Continued rotation of the bubblewheel results in a continued exposure of bubble film to the air stream.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The objects and many attendant advantages of this invention will bereadily appreciated and become readily apparent as the same becomesbetter understood by reference to the following detailed description,when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and inwhich like reference numerals designate like parts throughout thefigures thereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric assembly view of the bubble machine (rotated 90degrees counterclockwise to facilitate a larger scale figure). The frontright portion of the solution container shells, lower impeller housing,and fluid tank are shown cut away. The right portion of the upperimpeller housing and fluid drum (except for part of the fluid drum gear)are also shown cut away.

FIG. 2A is an exploded isometric view of the various parts that make upthe bubble machine and illustrates their relationship to each other. Theportions shown cut away, are identical to that shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of the bubble machine base shown in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2C is an enlarged view of the fluid tank shown in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2D is an enlarged view of the fluid drum shown in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2E is an enlarged view of the impeller housings and impeller shownin FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2F is an enlarged view of the fan and bubble wheel shown in FIG.2A.

FIG. 2G is an enlarged view of the solution container shells shown inFIG. 2A.

FIG. 3 is an orthographic side view of the bubble machine. The portionsshown cut away are the same as in FIG. 1 except that the bubble drumgear is not cut away. The bubble solution is shown retained in thebottom of the lower shell.

FIG. 4 is a sideways oriented enlargement of the bubble solutioncontainer portion of the bubble machine of FIG. 3. The bubble solutionis shown retained in the top of the upper shell.

FIG. 5 is an inverted enlargement of the bubble solution containerportion of the bubble machine of FIG. 3. The bubble solution is shownretained in the front portions of the upper and lower container shells.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In order to facilitate the understanding of the present invention inreviewing the drawings accompanying the specification, a feature list isprovided below. It is noted that like features are like numberedthroughout all of the figures.

FEATURE TABLE Number Feature 10 Bubble machine assembly 12 Forward endof assembly 14 Rearward end of assembly 20 Bubble machine base 22 Attachpin - machine base 24 Attach pin - machine base 26 Attach pin - machinebase 30 Fluid tank 32 Fluid passage hole - fluid tank 34 Attachreceptacle - fluid tank 35 Attach spout - fluid tank 36 Attach spoutrearward edge - fluid tank 38 Attach spout inner surface - fluid tank 40Fluid drum 41 Fluid drum open end 42 Fluid drum gate 44 Inner gearsurface - fluid drum 46 Fluid passage slot - drum fluid 50 Lowerimpeller housing 52 Attach receptacle - lower impeller housing 54Spout - lower impeller housing 56 Axle retaining slot - lower impellerhousing 58 Stop - lower impeller housing 60 Upper impeller housing 61Upper impeller housing spout 62 Stepped spout edge - upper impellerhousing 64 Outer spout surface - upper impeller housing 66 Axleretaining slot - upper impeller housing 68 Stop - upper impeller housing70 Impeller 71 Impeller forward gear 72 Impeller rearward gear 74Impeller forward axle 76 Impeller rearward axle 78 Impeller blade 80 Fan82 Fan axle 83 Rearward retaining flange - fan axle 84 Forward retainingflange - fan axle 86 Male fan gear 87 Female fan gear 88 Fan blade 90Bubble Wheel 92 Bubble orifice 94 Bubble wheel axle 96 Retainingflange - bubble wheel 98 Bubble wheel gear 100 Lower solution containershell 102 Bubble solution trough - lower shell 104 Connecting flange -lower shell 106 Attach receptacle - lower shell 108 Fill line 110 Uppersolution container shell 112 Funnel - upper shell 114 Funnel upperopening - upper shell 116 Funnel lower opening - upper shell 118 Axleretaining slot - funnel 120 Connecting flange - upper shell 122 Fan axletrough - upper shell 124 Forward fan axle retaining flange - upper shell125 Rearward fan axle retaining flange - upper shell 126 Upper shellfill spout 130 Cap 140 Bubble solution level

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, theinvention is a machine 10 that comprises a base 20, a fluid tank 30, afluid drum 40, a lower impeller housing 50, an upper impeller housing60, an impeller 70, a fan 80, a bubble wheel, a lower solution containershell 100, an upper solution container shell 110, and a cap 130. Themachine 10 has a forward end 12 and a rearward end 14. Base 20 comprisesa support base with a plurality of attach pins 22, 24, and 26. Thepreferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described byfurther reference to the figures.

As can be seen from FIG. 2C, fluid tank 30 contains a plurality of fluidpassage holes 32, an attach receptacle 34, and an attach spout 35.Attach receptacle 34 is adapted to snappingly attach to and be supportedby attach pin 22. Rearward edge 36 of attach spout 35 bears against theimpeller housing stepped edge 62, and the inner surface 38 of attachspout 35 connects with outer surface 64 of upper impeller housing spout61.

FIG. 2D shows fluid drum 40 having an open end 41, a gear 42, an innergear surface 44, and a plurality of fluid passage slots 46. Fluid drum40 is adapted to reside on and rotate about fluid tank 30. The innergear surface 44 is adapted to allow attach spout 35 and attach spout 61to be in coupling engagement within and to pass through the inner gearsurface 44.

As can be seen from FIG. 2E, an impeller housing is defined by a lowerimpeller housing 50 and an upper impeller housing 60. Lower impellerhousing 50 is further defined as having an attach receptacle 52, a spout54, an impeller axle retaining slot 56, and a stop 58. The attachreceptacle 52 is adapted to snappingly attach to and supported by attachpin 24. Upper impeller housing 60 is further defined as having a spout61, a stepped spout edge 62, a spout outer surface 64, an axle retainingslot 66, and a stop 68. The lower impeller housing 50 and the upperimpeller housing 60 are adapted to snappingly engage one to another toform a complete impeller housing.

As can also be seen from FIG. 2E, an impeller 70 has a forward gear 71,a rearward gear 72, a forward axle 74, a rearward axle 76, and aplurality of impeller blades 78. Impeller 70 is adapted to be retainedby and be rotatable within lower impeller housing 50 and upper impellerhousing 60 when the impeller housings are in coupling engagement withone another by means of the impeller axles 74 and 76 being retained byaxle retaining slots 56 and 66.

As shown in FIG. 2F, a fan 80 is provided having fan axle 82, a rearwardfan axle retaining flange 83, a forward fan axle retaining flange 84, amale fan gear 86, a female fan gear 87, and a plurality of fan blades88.

Also shown in FIG. 2F, a bubble wheel 90 has a plurality of bubbleorifices 92 about the outer periphery, a bubble wheel axle 94 at thecenter, at least one bubble retaining flange 96 on the end of the bubblewheel axle 94, and a bubble wheel gear 98. The male fan axle 86 isadapted to mesh with and provide torque to bubble wheel gear 98.

FIG. 2G shows a bubble solution container having a lower solutioncontainer shell 100 and an upper solution container shell 110. The lowersolution container shell 100 is further defined as a shell having abubble solution trough 102, a connecting flange 104, an attachreceptacle 106, and a fill line 108. The attach receptacle 106 isadapted to snappingly attach to and supported by base attach pin 26.

As is also shown in FIG. 2G, the upper solution container shell 110 isfurther defined as a shell having a funnel 112, a upper funnel opening114, a lower funnel opening 116, bubble wheel axle retaining slots 118,a connecting flange 120, a fan axle trough 122, fan axle retainingflanges 124 and 125, and a filling spout 126. The lower solutioncontainer shell 100 and upper solution container shell 110 are adaptedsnappingly attach together by connecting flanges 104 and 120. The fillspout 126 is adapted to threadingly attach to a cap 130. The bubblewheel axle retaining flange 118 is adapted to snappingly attach to andsupport rotation of the bubble wheel axle 94. The fan axle retainingslots 124 and 125 are adapted to snappingly attach to and supportrotation of fan axle 82.

The operation of the present invention can be seen by reference to FIG.1. When a pressurized fluid source is connected to the lower impellerhousing spout 54, the fluid will cause the impeller 70 to rotate bycreating a pressure differential on the impeller blades. As impeller 70rotates, male impeller gear 72 that is coupled to female fan gear 87causes the fan 80 to rotate. The rotation of impeller 70 also causesimpeller forward gear 71 which is meshed with fluid drum gear 42 torotate the fluid drum. The rotation of fan 80 causes fan blades 88 togenerate an air flow in the direction of bubble wheel 90. As fan 80rotates, male fan gear 86 that is meshed with bubble wheel gear 98causes bubble wheel 90 to rotate. The rotation of bubble wheel 90 causesbubble orifice 92 to continuously travel through and be immersed inbubble solution in bubble solution trough 102, to travel above funnelupper opening 114, and to expose refreshed bubble orifice 92 to the airstream, thus creating bubbles. After entering through lower impellerhousing spout 54 and rotating impeller 70, the pressurized fluid exitsupper impeller housing 60 through upper impeller housing spout 61 andsimultaneously enters fluid drum 30 through fluid drum attach spout 35.

After entering and pressurizing fluid tank 30, the fluid exits the fluidtank through one or more fluid passage holes 32 and through one or morefluid passage slots 46 and sprays outward. Fluid tank 30 and fluid drum40 are adapted such that at any given point in the bubble creation cycleand the fluid flow and spray cycle, at least one fluid passage hole 32and at least one fluid passage slot 46, will always be lined up with oneanother so to create a constant fluid flow path.

As can be seen by reference to FIG. 2, bubble wheel gear 98 has adiameter less than the diameter of the bubble wheel 90. The bubble wheel90 is prevented from inadvertently becoming detached from bubble wheelaxle retaining slots 118 by bubble wheel axle retaining flanges 96.Retaining flanges 96 also act to keep bubble wheel 90 from rubbingagainst the sides of funnel 112. Bubble solution is poured into theinterior of upper container shell 110 through fill spout 126 to apredetermined level as indicated by fill line 108. The maximum fill line108 is placed no higher on lower shell 100 than to equal the volumedefined by the maximum liquid that can be held in the machine withoutrunning out of funnel 112 when oriented in any position.

FIGS. 3-5 illustrate the additional unique advantages of spillresistance when fluid is filled at or below the fill line 108 in thesubject invention regardless of the various possible orientations. As isapparent from FIG. 3, when the invention is in the upright positionliquid will always be below the lower edge 116 of funnel 112. Whenmachine 10 is in the upside down position as in FIG. 4, the liquid willoccupy the space immediately around funnel 112 but not be able to enterfunnel 112 for discharge through opening 114. When machine 10 is in asideways position as in FIG. 5, the liquid level will always be betweenthe side of the funnel 112 and the lower side of the two containershells 100 and 110. Furthermore, when the machine 10 is oriented in anyof an infinite variations of the above described positions, it willbehave in a like manner and prevent the spillage of the solution.

As is seen by reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, in the preferred embodiment,the fluid powered bubble machine of the subject invention is mounted ona base with bubbles being blown from one end and fluid emanating fromthe other. However, other embodiments of the subject invention couldreadily be adapted to have the fluid emanate from a vertical fluid tankand the bubble blowing portion of the machine could be mounted above thefluid tank so as to increase the elevation of the bubbles being blow.The entire machine could also be readily adapted to take the from of afire hydrant, a cartoon character, or other aesthetically pleasingshape.

Lastly, the preferred method of fabrication would be injection moldingfor high volume low cost production. The material used could be any of avariety of materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester,nylon, etc. that are compatible with the injection molding process.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structureembodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the artthat various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventiveconcept. The subject invention is not limited to the particular formsherein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope ofthe appended claims.

1. A mechanical toy wherein said toy comprises an automatednon-cavitation bubble producing device connected to a non-bubble liquidemitting device, said bubble producing device and said liquid emittingdevice are adapted to be selectively operated either together orindependently of each other and wherein said toy includes at least onecontainer of the following group of containers comprising a containerdefining an inner cavity and having a funnel extending into said cavity,a container defining an inner cavity and having a funnel extending intosaid cavity wherein said funnel is substantially half as long as saidcontainer, a container defining an inner cavity and having asubstantially rectangular shaped funnel, a container defining an innercavity and having a funnel extending into said cavity said funnel havingan inner opening and wherein said inner opening is substantiallycentrally located within said cavity and a spill resistant containerdefining an inner cavity wherein said container provides open access tosaid cavity and wherein said container resists spillage of liquidcontents of said container when said container is oriented in anyposition.
 2. The toy of claim 1 wherein said liquid is water.
 3. The toyof claim 1 wherein said toy is connected to a pressurized watercontainer.
 4. The toy of claim 1 wherein said liquid emitting devicedefines a hydraulic motor having at least one liquid emission port. 5.The toy of claim 4 wherein said automated bubble producing device isactuatingly connected to said hydraulic motor such that a predeterminedmovement of said hydraulic motor imparts a corresponding predeterminedmovement to said bubble producing device.
 6. The toy of claim 1 whereinsaid toy further comprises a container defining an inner cavity, saidcontainer having an opening in a wall of said container to providecommunication between said inner cavity and the exterior of saidcontainer, an access device for accessing the liquid contents of saidcontainer through said opening, and a hydraulic motor operable inresponse to liquid flow from a source external to said apparatus, saidhydraulic motor imparting movement to said access device formanipulating said access device into and out of contact with the liquidcontents of said inner cavity.
 7. The toy of claim 1 wherein said toyfurther comprises a first container defining a first inner cavity, saidfirst container having a funnel integrally formed with and extendinginto said first inner cavity to provide communication between said firstinner cavity and the exterior of said first container to inhibitspillage of the contents of said first container, and an access devicefor accessing the liquid contents of said first container through saidfunnel, said apparatus further comprising a second container having asecond inner cavity, and a hollow cylinder rotatably mounted within saidsecond inner cavity, said second container having at least one exit portto provide for communication between said second inner cavity and theexterior of said second container, and said hollow cylinder having atleast one hole to provide communication between the interior of saidhollow cylinder and the interior of said second inner cavity, saidapparatus further comprising a hydraulic motor operable in response toliquid flow from a source external to said apparatus, said hydraulicmotor imparting movement to said access device for manipulating saidaccess device into and out of contact with the liquid contents of saidfirst inner cavity and said hydraulic motor imparting rotation to saidhollow cylinder within said second inner cavity and wherein rotation ofsaid hollow cylinder causes periodic alignment of said at least one holein said hollow cylinder with said at least one exit port in said secondcontainer, and wherein said hydraulic motor comprises an impeller and animpeller housing, said impeller housing having a first opening forreceiving said liquid from a source external to said apparatus and asecond opening spatially removed from said first opening for permittingsaid liquid from said external source to exit said impeller housing andwherein said liquid flows into said first opening, past said impellerand exits out said second opening and whereby said liquid flow impartsrotation to said impeller and wherein the rotation of said impellerimparts movement of at least one of said hollow cylinder and said accessdevice, and wherein said impeller is attached to a rotating assembly,said rotating assembly comprising an axle being integrally attached tosaid impeller at a first end of said axle within said impeller housing,said axle terminating in a second end on the exterior of said impellerhousing and wherein said second end of said axle is rotatably andintegrally attached to said hollow cylinder for rotation of said hollowcylinder within said second inner cavity, and wherein said secondopening in said impeller housing is connected to said second containerand provides communication between said impeller housing and said secondinner cavity and said hollow cylinder, and wherein said liquid from saidexternal source exits through said second opening in said impellerhousing and flows into said hollow cylinder, and whereby rotation ofsaid hollow cylinder permits said liquid to exit through the at leastone aligned hole and exit port of said hollow cylinder and said secondcontainer in a time interval corresponding to the time in which suchalignment is maintained.
 8. A non-cavitation bubble creation apparatuscomprising a hydraulic motor and a bubble creation device wherein saidhydraulic motor is adapted to actuate said bubble creation device, saidapparatus further including at least one exit port for the emission ofhydraulic fluid and wherein said apparatus includes at least onecontainer of the following group of containers comprising a containerdefining an inner cavity and having a funnel extending into said cavity,a container defining an inner cavity and having a funnel extending intosaid cavity wherein said funnel is substantially half as long as saidcontainer, a container defining an inner cavity and having asubstantially rectangular shaped funnel, a container defining an innercavity and having a funnel extending into said cavity said funnel havingan inner opening and wherein said inner opening is substantiallycentrally located within said cavity and a spill resistant containerdefining an inner cavity wherein said container provides open access tosaid cavity and wherein said container resists spillage of liquidcontents of said container when said container is oriented in anyposition.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the hydraulic fluid forsaid hydraulic motor is water.
 10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein saidapparatus is connected to a pressurized water container.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 8 wherein said apparatus defines a mechanical toy.12. The bubble creation device of claim 8 wherein said bubble creationdevice further comprises a container defining an inner cavity, saidcontainer having an opening in a wall of said container to providecommunication between said inner cavity and the exterior of saidcontainer, and an access device for accessing the liquid contents ofsaid container through said opening, and the hydraulic motor of claim 8,wherein said hydraulic motor is further operable in response to liquidflow from a source external to said apparatus, and wherein saidhydraulic motor imparts movement to said access device for manipulatingsaid access device into and out of contact with the liquid contents ofsaid inner cavity.
 13. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said apparatusfurther comprises a first container defining a first inner cavity, saidfirst container having a funnel integrally formed with and extendinginto said first inner cavity to provide communication between said firstinner cavity and the exterior of said first container to inhibitspillage of the contents of said first container, and an access devicefor accessing the liquid contents of said first container through saidfunnel, said apparatus further comprising a second container having asecond inner cavity, and a hollow cylinder rotatably mounted within saidsecond inner cavity, said second container having at least one exit portto provide for communication between said second inner cavity and theexterior of said second container, and said hollow cylinder having atleast one hole to provide communication between the interior of saidhollow cylinder and the interior of said second inner cavity, and thehydraulic motor of claim 8 further being operable in response to liquidflow from a source external to said apparatus, and wherein saidhydraulic motor imparts movement to said access device for manipulatingsaid access device into and out of contact with the liquid contents ofsaid first inner cavity and said hydraulic motor imparts rotation tosaid hollow cylinder within said second inner cavity and whereinrotation of said hollow cylinder causes periodic alignment of said atleast one hole in said hollow cylinder with said at least one exit portin said second container, and wherein said hydraulic motor comprises animpeller and an impeller housing, said impeller housing having a firstopening for receiving said liquid from a source external to saidapparatus and a second opening spatially removed from said first openingfor permitting said liquid from said external source to exit saidimpeller housing and wherein said liquid flows into said first opening,past said impeller and exits out said second opening and whereby saidliquid flow imparts rotation to said impeller and wherein the rotationof said impeller imparts movement of at least one of said hollowcylinder and said access device, and wherein said impeller is attachedto a rotating assembly, said rotating assembly comprising an axle beingintegrally attached to said impeller at a first end of said axle withinsaid impeller housing, said axle terminating in a second end on theexterior of said impeller housing and wherein said second end of saidaxle is rotatably and integrally attached to said hollow cylinder forrotation of said hollow cylinder within said second inner cavity, andwherein said second opening in said impeller housing is connected tosaid second container and provides communication between said impellerhousing and said second inner cavity and said hollow cylinder, andwherein said liquid from said external source exits through said secondopening in said impeller housing and flows into said hollow cylinder,and whereby rotation of said hollow cylinder permits said liquid to exitthrough the at least one aligned hole and exit port of said hollowcylinder and said second container in a time interval corresponding tothe time in which such alignment is maintained.
 14. An automaticnon-cavitation bubble creation apparatus comprising a bubble producingdevice connected to a pressurized water container wherein said apparatusincludes at least one container of the following group of containerscomprising a container defining an inner cavity and having a funnelextending into said cavity, a container defining an inner cavity andhaving a funnel extending into said cavity wherein said funnel issubstantially half as long as said container, a container defining aninner cavity and having a substantially rectangular shaped funnel, acontainer defining an inner cavity and having a funnel extending intosaid cavity said funnel having an inner opening and wherein said inneropening is substantially centrally located within said cavity and aspill resistant container defining an inner cavity wherein saidcontainer provides open access to said cavity and wherein said containerresists spillage of liquid contents of said container when saidcontainer is oriented in any position.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14wherein said bubble producing device and said pressurized watercontainer are connected to a hydraulic motor.
 16. The apparatus of claim15 wherein the hydraulic fluid for said hydraulic motor is water. 17.The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said apparatus defines a mechanicaltoy.
 18. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said apparatus furthercomprises a container defining an inner cavity, said container having anopening in a wall of said container to provide communication betweensaid inner cavity and the exterior of said container, an access devicefor accessing the liquid contents of said container through saidopening, and a hydraulic motor operable in response to liquid flow froma source external to said apparatus, said hydraulic motor impartingmovement to said access device for manipulating said access device intoand out of contact with the liquid contents of said inner cavity. 19.The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said apparatus further comprises afirst container defining a first inner cavity, said first containerhaving a funnel integrally formed with and extending into said firstinner cavity to provide communication between said first inner cavityand the exterior of said first container to inhibit spillage of thecontents of said first container, and an access device for accessing theliquid contents of said first container through said funnel, saidapparatus further comprising a second container having a second innercavity, and a hollow cylinder rotatably mounted within said second innercavity, said second container having at least one exit port to providefor communication between said second inner cavity and the exterior ofsaid second container, and said hollow cylinder having at least one holeto provide communication between the interior of said hollow cylinderand the interior of said second inner cavity, said apparatus furthercomprising a hydraulic motor operable in response to liquid flow from asource external to said apparatus, said hydraulic motor impartingmovement to said access device for manipulating said access device intoand out of contact with the liquid contents of said first inner cavityand said hydraulic motor imparting rotation to said hollow cylinderwithin said second inner cavity and wherein rotation of said hollowcylinder causes periodic alignment of said at least one hole in saidhollow cylinder with said at least one exit port in said secondcontainer, and wherein said hydraulic motor comprises an impeller and animpeller housing, said impeller housing having a first opening forreceiving said liquid from a source external to said apparatus and asecond opening spatially removed from said first opening for permittingsaid liquid from said external source to exit said impeller housing andwherein said liquid flows into said first opening, past said impellerand exits out said second opening and whereby said liquid flow impartsrotation to said impeller and wherein the rotation of said impellerimparts movement of at least one of said hollow cylinder and said accessdevice, and wherein said impeller is attached to a rotating assembly,said rotating assembly comprising an axle being integrally attached tosaid impeller at a first end of said axle within said impeller housing,said axle terminating in a second end on the exterior of said impellerhousing and wherein said second end of said axle is rotatably andintegrally attached to said hollow cylinder for rotation of said hollowcylinder within said second inner cavity, and wherein said secondopening in said impeller housing is connected to said second containerand provides communication between said impeller housing and said secondinner cavity and said hollow cylinder, and wherein said liquid from saidexternal source exits through said second opening in said impellerhousing and flows into said hollow cylinder, and whereby rotation ofsaid hollow cylinder permits said liquid to exit through the at leastone aligned hole and exit port of said hollow cylinder and said secondcontainer in a time interval corresponding to the time in which suchalignment is maintained.
 20. A mechanical toy defining an automatednon-cavitation bubble creation apparatus comprising a hydraulic motorand a non-cavitation bubble creation device wherein said hydraulic motoris adapted to actuate said non-cavitation bubble creation device, saidapparatus further including at least one exit port for the emission ofhydraulic fluid, and said apparatus being connected to a pressurizedwater container and wherein said toy includes at least one container ofthe following group of containers comprising a container defining aninner cavity and having a funnel extending into said cavity, a containerdefining an inner cavity and having a funnel extending into said cavitywherein said funnel is substantially half as long as said container, acontainer defining an inner cavity and having a substantiallyrectangular shaped funnel, a container defining an inner cavity andhaving a funnel extending into said cavity said funnel having an inneropening and wherein said inner opening is substantially centrallylocated within said cavity and a spill resistant container defining aninner cavity wherein said container provides open access to said cavityand wherein said container resists spillage of liquid contents of saidcontainer when said container is oriented in any position.
 21. Anon-cavitation bubble creation apparatus comprising a bubble creationdevice and a container wherein said container defines at least onecontainer of the following group of containers comprising a containerdefining an inner cavity of a predetermined length and having an openfunnel extending into said cavity and wherein said funnel is at leasthalf as long as said length of said cavity, a container defining aninner cavity and having a open funnel extending into said cavity saidfunnel having an inner opening and wherein said inner opening issubstantially centrally located within said cavity, a container definingan inner cavity and having a substantially rectangular shaped openfunnel and wherein said container resists spillage of a predeterminedamount of liquid contents of said container when said container isoriented in any position, and a container defining an inner cavityhaving an open non-cylindrical/non-conical funnel and wherein saidcontainer resists spillage of a predetermined amount of liquid contentsof said container when said container is oriented in any position.
 22. Anon-cavitation bubble creation apparatus comprising a bubble creationdevice and a container having an inner cavity and an open funnelextending into said cavity wherein said container resists spillage of apredetermined amount of liquid contents of said container when saidcontainer is oriented in any position and wherein said bubble creationdevice defines at least one bubble creation device of the followinggroup of bubble creation devices comprising a bubble creation devicehaving a plurality of bubble orifices, a bubble creation device defininga bubble wheel having at least one bubble orifice, and a bubble creationdevice having a first portion and a second portion and wherein saidfirst portion includes at least one bubble orifice and wherein saidsecond potion defines a portion that remains within said funnel when abubble is created.
 23. A non-cavitation bubble creation apparatuscomprising a bubble creation device and a container defining an innercavity having a first opening wherein said first opening includes a openfunnel connected to said first opening and extending into said cavityand wherein said container includes a second opening having an openingcover removeably connected to said second opening and wherein saidbubble creation device is mechanically actuateable into and out of saidcontainer.
 24. A non-cavitation bubble creation apparatus comprising abubble creation device and a container having an inner cavity and anopen funnel extending into said cavity wherein said container resistsspillage of a predetermined amount of liquid contents of said containerwhen said container is oriented in any position and wherein said bubblecreation device defines a bubble creation device having at least onesubstantially planar bubble orifice defining a plane and wherein saidbubble creation device is moveable into and out of said container bymoving along a path through said funnel, and wherein said path throughsaid funnel defines an axis, and wherein said axis lies substantiallywithin said orifice plane when said bubble orifice moves through saidfunnel.
 25. A non-cavitation bubble creation apparatus comprising abubble creation device and a container having an inner cavity and anopen funnel extending into said cavity wherein said container resistsspillage of a predetermined amount of liquid contents of said containerwhen said container is oriented in any position and wherein said bubblecreation device is movably connected to said container and wherein saidbubble creation device is mechanically actuateable into and out of saidcontainer.
 26. A non-cavitation bubble creation apparatus comprising abubble creation device having at least one bubble orifice of apredetermined length and a container having an inner cavity and an openfunnel of a predetermined length extending lengthwise into said cavityand wherein said length of said funnel exceeds said length of saidorifice.